Album Review:

If there were a contender for the "First Surf Group", the Revels would certainly fit the bill. Formed in the fifties, the group was initially called Gil Cerna & the Rockets, before switching their name to the Revels in 1959. The band was the first to record such surf favorites as 'Six Pak' (1959), 'Church Key' b/w 'Vesuvius' (1960), 'Intoxica' (1961), and 'Revellion' (1962). Almost all these tunes predate the initial California music craze, and all would influence and be covered by countless similar groups over the next few years. The band, under the management of Tony Hilder (part-time actor and later, conspiracy theorist), had its main run of success before the surf genre took off. On A Rampage was released on  Hilder's tiny Impact label and sank without a trace, making it one of the rarest and most sought-after releases of the era.

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'Rampage' lives up to its title and has more in common with mid-fifties blues than surf music. 'Monkeybird' (originally titled 'Conga Twist') takes its cues from the Latin groove of 'Tequila' but is far more in line with the surf movement, with some great reverby guitars. The seminal 'Church Key' is a highlight, and 'Tough Soul' encapsulates the birth of the wave well. 'Commanche' is a gritty sax-driven tune, and 'Like Tequila' features some twangy low electric bends. 'It's Party Time' is a forgettable  honky tonk rocker. 'Intoxica' features Hilder's girlfriend, Barbara Adkins (also heard on 'Church Key'). The original version of 'Revellion' is another high point. The underrated 'Sano' would appear again on the Centurians' Surfer's Pajama Party and is a total gem. I'd forgotten that the original recording of 'Vesuvius' features the title spoken over the breaks, which was not usually recreated on later covers. 'Soft Top' is notable for perhaps being the very first car-related surf tune ever written. 

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For such a historically important work, it's surprising that this album has never seen an official reissue in its original state. It is also incredibly scarce, and finding an original copy is nearly impossible; therefore, it's not uncommon for original copies to sell for $400-$600 at auction. Sundazed reissued most available Revels tracks in the 1990s with an extremely 90s cover slick, so if you can't get over the packaging, it's about your only option to get these songs on vinyl.

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Impact Records released just one other Lp entitled Shake! Shout! & Soul! which, while not quite as valuable, is equally hard to find.